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Sheep Resource Handbook
Sheep Resource Handbook
Thank you for your interest in the Ohio 4-H publication 194R Sheep Resource
Handbook (2011). The following pages show the areas in which significant
changes have been made to the 2000 edition. Pages with only minor changes are
not included.
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Ohio only: Ohio 4-H club advisors, club members, and other Ohio residents get the best price
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To the Member
After you have made the decision to take a sheep and safe product—in other words, lamb that
project, it is important that you know what type the consumer wants to buy. To have a successful
of animal you are looking for, how to feed it, project you must be willing to study and review
diseases it may have, management practices, and the information contained in this handbook and
many other important concepts. apply it.
By teaching you these matters through The 4-H member project books contain activities
information and experience, this project will that enhance learning from the information
make it possible for you to produce a high-quality gained in this handbook.
Sentence updated.
History
Sheep were brought to North America by Spanish and English settlers. Columbus
brought the animals to the New World on his second voyage in 1493. Sheep were
shipped to Virginia from England in 1609. As people moved west across the United
States, sheep went with them. Approximately 75 percent of the sheep in the United
States are now west of the Mississippi River.
Sheep are found on many farms in Ohio. They can be a good source of income
with two important products—wool and meat.
Chapter 1 • Introduction 7
Chapter 2
Chapter 2 • Selection 9
Judging Market Lambs Parts of the Lamb
The main points to consider in judging market To be successful in raising and selecting sheep,
lambs are structure, type, muscling, and finish. you should know the names of the various parts
(See Figures 3 and 4.) Evaluation of carcass merit of the animal and their locations on the animal’s
is an estimate that measures the relationship body. Using industry-accepted terms helps you
between finish and muscle. know what to look for and to accurately describe
an animal’s traits (Figure 1).
Paragraph updated.
Last sentence updated.
Figure 1
Parts of a Sheep
Chapter 2 • Selection 11
This knowledge should be permanent, at least
for as long as you are involved in raising and
showing sheep. When talking to fellow
Size Considerations
4-H members, a breeder, or a judge, you will
want to sound knowledgeable about your 4-H Regardless of breed, it is important when
project. So take some time now to study the selecting your project lambs to select ones at the
following diagram and become thoroughly right size. Select a size that is appropriate to the
familiar with all the indicated parts of a lamb. amount of time you have from project start until
fair time. Know the dates of your fair and figure
the number of days you will be feeding your
lamb. Lambs will generally be purchased at 10–
14 weeks of age and will weigh 60–90 pounds.
Ages and weights updated.
Figure 2
Sheep Skeletal System
12 Chapter 2 • Selection
Paragraph and chart updated.
Most lamb projects are started in April or early When selecting size, don’t forget to consider
May. Market lambs at fair time should weigh frame size as well. Frame size plays an important
100 pounds or more, with ideal being 115– part in the weight of your lamb. If you have a
140 pounds. Minimum weight varies due to large-framed lamb, it can carry 130 pounds much
individual fair requirements. An average lamb on easier and better than a smaller framed animal.
a good ration will gain 0.60 to 0.80 pounds per The smaller framed lamb will appear to be fatter.
day. Feed your lamb with a weight goal in mind, Also, if you are buying two or more lambs,
leaving margins for extreme hot weather, sickness, choose animals that are similar in frame size and
and other unforeseen problems. weight.
The following chart may help you in selection:
Anticipated weights for lambs
gaining .68 pounds per day: Selecting the Right Type of Lamb
Days Until Purchase Total Final
Showing Weight Gain Weight A good lamb should catch your eye when you
(rounded) first see it. Select lambs with enough length of
100 50 68 118 body and leg to denote growthiness but with
100 65 68 133 good muscle development over the hindsaddle
100 80 68 148 and in the rear legs. Avoid short, fat, and early-
80 50 54.4 104 maturing lambs or rangy, narrow types that lack
80 65 54.4 119 muscle development or ruggedness.
80 80 54.4 134
60 50 40.8 91
60 65 40.8 106
60 80 40.8 121
1. Balance
2. Size and scale
(Height, length and width)
3. Depth of body
4. Length of body
5. Levelness of rump
6. Length of hindsaddle
7. Depth and fullness of leg
8. Trimness of middle
(market lamb)
9. Correctness of feet, legs and
pasterns
10. Length of head and neck
11. Trimness of breast
Figure 3
Chapter 2 • Selection 13
Paragraph updated.
Note added.
Figure 4
14 Chapter 2 • Selection
After viewing several lambs, you will soon realize
that the angle at the hocks varies. The greater
the degree to which this angle varies, the more
incorrect the animal is and the more serious the
fault (Figure 5).
The sickle-hocked lamb (Figure 5) has too much
set or angle at the hock. In horses, this defect
causes curbing, a bony growth on the back of the
hock that develops because of strain on the joint.
This can occur in sheep, but rarely does, because a
sheep does not strain the hock to the same extent
as a horse.
A more serious fault is a hind leg that is too
straight, or post-legged (Figure 5). This condition
changes the angulation of the bones at the hock
and the stifle joint and shortens the stride. The
patella (knee cap) at the stifle joint may be
displaced resulting in a stifled, lame, unsound
animal.
Figure 5 illustrates the proper set to the hind Figure 6
leg when the animal is viewed from the rear. (North Central Region Extension
Figure 5 shows a cow-hocked lamb. With this Publication #300)
condition, the hocks are too close together, the
cannons are not parallel and the toes deviate Measurements
extremely outward. A lamb with this defect has Finish updated.
an unsightly, inefficient gait. Correct finish is important to determine the
cutability (retail value) of a lamb. Finish is the
A lamb can also be bowlegged off the hind legs
amount of external fat on a lamb. To determine
(Figure 5).
the amount of finish, handle the lamb over the
backbone and ribs. Excessive prominence of the
Sheep Jaw Structure backbone and ribs shows a lack of finish. Too
much finish is present when you cannot feel the
(See Figure 6.)
backbone or ribs by normal handling methods.
A. Undershot (Parrot-mouth)—in this Correct finish is 0.15–0.25 inches of backfat.
situation the lower jaw is too short. Desirable traits in regard to finish include:
B. Overshot (Monkey-mouth)—the lower jaw smooth and uniform fat cover over the ribs; no
is too long, and the teeth are in the front of excessive fullness in breast; a uniform fat cover of
the upper mouth pad. 0.15–0.25 inches.
C. Normal mouth—the top and bottom jaws Finish or Condition is evaluated in the:
are properly aligned. Note that the incisor • sternum • over backbone and loin
teeth are flush with the pad on the upper (12th and 13th rib)
jaw. Parenthesis added.
• lower forerib • flank
Unsound mouth diagrams such as A and B are
• upper rear rib • twist
inherited traits that interfere with the sheep’s
ability to gather food. The measurement over the 12th and 13th rib is
the only measurement used in the current USDA
yield grade equation.
16 Chapter 2 • Selection Sentence added.
Animal A Animal B
2
4 3
2
1
1 3 4
5
Animal A is shorter bodied and too fat. Animal B is tall, long bodied and trim but lacks
1. Excessive depth of body balance, thickness and muscle.
2. Shorter-bodied 1. Shallow-bodied (tight hearted)
3. Steep-rumped 2. Shorter-rumped
4. Shorter hindsaddle 3. Shorter hindsaddle
5. Is light-muscled and fat through leg 4. Flat, narrow, shallow leg that is light
6. Wasty-middled muscled
Condition
Soundness
Condition refers to the amount of fat. In
breeding sheep, excess condition leads to Soundness (skeletal correctness) in mouth, feet,
reproductive problems. Over-fat ewes have legs and fleece are important in breeding sheep.
trouble breeding and lambing. Ewes that are too The lower teeth should hit even with the upper
thin also may have trouble breeding or raising pad. (See Figure 6.) Straight, strong legs and
lambs. adequate bones are also desirable. The legs should
be set squarely on the corners of the body. (See
Chapter 2 • Selection 17
and their vulvas should be well developed and
relatively flat, not tipped. Compare each animal Determining Age
against the others in the class.
Sentences added.
Breeding Animals
Lamb’s teeth
In selecting breeding animals, consider the
requirements to meet your needs. Set goals for
the market for which you intend to produce,
and then select breeding sheep to meet that
goal. You might be trying to produce elite Yearling’s teeth
breeding stock for purebred operations, or
perhaps to produce competitive wether lambs for
exhibition, or perhaps to produce market lambs
for direct marketing to consumers. Heredity and
environment will affect the animals’ ability to 2-year-old’s
meet these requirements. teeth
When selecting breeding animals for your flock,
define your objectives. Know what you want to
do with your 4-H breeding sheep before you start
buying animals. Ideal breeding sheep should be
3-year-old’s
structurally correct (check the mouth for age and teeth
soundness, the testicles of rams to makes sure
they are correct in size and development), have
adequate frame size and weight for their age, be
in good body condition, and have correct breed
and sex characteristics. (See Figure 8.) 4-year-old’s
Sheep can be approximately aged by the number teeth
of permanent incisors on their lower jaw. Lambs
have eight temporary incisors. (See Figure 9.)
Once a lamb reaches about one year of age, the
center teeth are replaced by two permanent ones. Narrower, worn
The sheep then gets two more permanent teeth teeth of an older
sheep
each year (one on each side of the center) until
they reach four years of age. At age four, the
sheep have all their permanent incisors.
Chapter 2 • Selection 19
Sentences added.
ingredients like soybean meal, cottonseed
meal, etc. Collective terms denote a general
classification of ingredient origin which
What about Hay?
performs a similar function, but do not
imply equivalent nutritional values. For proper digestion, a sheep must have a certain
The list of ingredients can be very amount of roughage in its ration. Hay should
enlightening. For example, if the product be fed in adequate amounts each day to keep
is supposed to be a high-quality protein the rumen of the lamb functioning properly.
supplement and the first item on the list is Breeding ewes will need more hay than market
“Processed Grain By-Products”, the product lambs. Roughage should be high in quality and
may contain high levels of low cost, inferior fine-stemmed. Good quality roughages are those
carrier. that are cut early. Feed a good quality legume hay
(alfalfa). Green grass is not always a good idea
6. Directions for Use. Each product tag should
because it contains too much water and does not
provide information on how the product
provide enough fiber to the lamb. Additionally,
is to be used. Warnings or precautionary
many believe that a ground, pelleted form of
statements should be included. For example,
hay in a complete ration or feed is enough.
any product containing monensin must
The addition of long stem (not ground) forage
carry the warning that it should not be fed
improves stimulation of the rumen even more
to horses. Ingestion of monensin by equines
through an event commonly referred to as scratch
has been fatal.
factor. This helps ruminal health and maximizes
7. The name and mailing address of the buffering capacity, reducing acid in the rumen.
company responsible for making or In other words, a certain amount of long stem
distributing the feed. (XYZ Feed Company forage is necessary at each feeding, regardless of
Sheep Division, Anytown, USA 12345) the stage of production.
8. Net Weight Statement. This may be listed
Depending upon the stage of production of the
in pounds or kilograms. Many companies
ewe flock, different amounts and qualities of hay
are listing net weights in the metric system.
can be fed. Ewe flocks on a maintenance diet can
A kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds, thus
be fed a poorer quality hay than in late gestation.
a 50 pound bag may be listed as 22.6 kg
(kilograms). (Net weight: 50 lbs.)
Read the tags on the products you intend to
use and fully understand what you are doing
before you start using a product. Many potential
problems can be avoided if you make sure that
you are getting a suitable product and are feeding
the correct amount to your livestock. Make sure
that withdrawal times are noted and that they
will not prevent you from showing or selling your
animal as planned.
Chapter 4 • Nutrition 65
Chapter 6
Quality grades are used to predict palatability Yield grade refers to the expected yield of
characteristics such as: tenderness, juiciness, and boneless, closely trimmed retail cuts. The five
flavor. The quality grade of an animal is based on yield grades are numbered 1 through 5. Yield
two general considerations that influence carcass grade 1 is more desirable because it represents the
excellence: conformation and quality. Quality highest yield of meat from the retail cuts, while
includes fatness, maturity, and other indicators of yield grade 5 represents the lowest yield.
differences in palatability of the lean flesh such as The amount of external fat plays the primary
flank streaking and firmness of the lean. role in determining yield grade. The amount of
Conformation is the degree of total muscling in fat is measured at the 12th rib above the loin eye
the carcass in relationship to the skeletal frame muscle (Figure 58). As the amount of external fat
size and degree of finish, especially in the leg, increases, the percent of retail cuts decreases, with
rack, loin, and shoulder. Maturity is the age yieldgrade moving closer to 5.
of the animal. The lamb is an immature sheep
Sentence updated.
usually under 12 months that has not cut its
first pair of permanent incisor teeth, or the meat Sentences added.
is classified as mutton. The evaluation is based
on physiological maturity (bone maturity), and
not chronological maturity (actual age). When
a lamb is physiologically mature, cartilage in the
growth plate ossifies and turns to bone, meaning
the animal is now classified as mutton. Flank
streaking is the amount of fat on the surface
of the flank muscle. (See Table 6.) Firmness of
lean and fat is measured at the flank and is an
indicator of carcass fatness. The lamb also must
have a minimum amount of external fat (0.15
Figure 58
inch) covering the carcass to protect it from
Side view of a lamb which shows the location
shrinking and drying out in the meat cooler.
of the 12th rib site for backfat and loin eye area
The USDA quality grades for lambs and yearling estimation.
carcasses are Prime, Choice, Good, and Utility.
The majority of all quality graded lamb carcasses If the carcasses are not ribbed, the muscle size can
are Prime or Choice. be estimated by evaluating the muscling in the leg
and the width and fullness over the rack and loin.
The quality grades for slaughter (mutton)
carcasses are Choice, Good, Utility, and Cull.
Paragraphs Chapter 6 • Carcass Evaluation and Meats 73
updated.
The amount of external fat at the 12th–13th
rib determines yield grade. To find yield grade • Shorn lambs will have a higher dressing
use the following equation: YG = 0.4 + (10 x percent.
adjusted fat thickness over the loin eye). Using NOTE: Lambs with extremely high dressing
this equation, the fat thickness range for each percentages, greater than 56%, are usually
yield grade is as follows: Number changed. exaggerated as a result of extreme feed deprivation
Yield Grade Adjusted Fat Thickness or restriction from water. Withholding feed or
water is not in line with good animal (livestock)
1 0.07–0.15 inches
care and handling and should be avoided at all
2 0.16–0.25 inches costs.
3 0.26–0.35 inches Note added.
Note added. 4 0.36–0.45 inches
5 0.46 inches and greater Finish
Note: If a lamb does not have at least 0.07 inch
fat over the loin eye, it cannot be U.S.D.A.
Finish refers to the thickness and distribution
graded (neither yield nor quality). An ideal
of external fat. In the ribbed carcass, the degree
fat thickness meeting the desired fatness for
of finish can be determined by observing the fat
the lamb industry is 0.12 to 0.25, a very tight
thickness directly over the top of the two loin eye
margin. Lambs that are leaner, less than 0.12, are
muscles at the center of the longissimus muscle.
considered to be ultra-lean and are not desired by
This usually is an indication of the total fatness of
the meat packing industry because they dry out
the carcass. The ideal finish on a lamb is 0.12 to
in the cooler.
0.25 inches of fat.
and 13th rib). Then the loin eye area can be used
as an indicator of muscling. The loin eye area
can be measured using a plastic grid which has
20 dots or squares for each square inch. Place
the grid on the cut surface of the loin eye and
count all of the dots which touch the lean of the
longissimus muscle, being sure not to include the
small muscles which surround the longissimus.
(See Figure 60.) Divide the number of dots by
20 and the result is loin eye area in square inches.
The loin eye area should be recorded to the
nearest 0.1 square inch. The normal range of the Figure 60
size of the loin eye is 2.0–3.0 square inches. Some Picture of loin eye with grid over it.
extremely heavy-muscled lambs exceed 3.0 square Actual size of this loin eye is 3.0 square inches.
inches in loin eye area. The industry average
across commercial lambs, show lambs, and Goals for Lamb Production
lambs marketed locally or through direct market
1. Average daily gain of 0.68 pounds or better.
channels is about a 2.7 square inch loin eye.
2. 54 percent dressing for shorn lambs.
NOTE: Some exhibitors believe increasing the live 3. 50 percent of carcass in hindsaddle.
weight of lambs for the show ring results in more
Note 4. 2.5 square inches of ribeye area per 50
product to the consumer. However, we have seen
added. pounds of carcass.
an increase in live weights over the last 25 years
and no real significant change in loin eye area. 5. 0.12–0.25 inch fat over center of the ribeye.
6. Choice quality grade or better.
7. Yield grade equals 1 or 2. Goals 1 and 5
adjusted.
Relationship Between Flank Fat Streakings, Maturity and Quality
Young lamb Older Lamb Yearling Mutton Mutton
Abundant
Moderately
Degrees of Flank Streakings
Abundant
Slightly
Abundant
Moderate Prime
Modest
Choice
Slight
Good
Traces
Practically
Devoid Utility Cull
Young Lamb Older Lamb Yearling Mutton Mutton
Maturity
Table 6
Chapter 6 • Carcass Evaluation and Meats 75
Paragraph updated.
Callipyge Gene
In recent years, a new heavy muscling trait has hypertrophy is of genetic origin and is capable
been identified in sheep. Many sheep producers of being passed from parent to offspring.
have been referring to the trait as “double Researchers have named the gene “callipyge”
muscling.” Meat scientists say this trait is not meaning “beautiful buttocks” (x=normal,
like the double muscling found in cattle and X=callipyge). Lambs with the callipyge gene have
hogs which is actually an increase in muscle cell much more muscle and less fat but also have
number. In sheep, extreme heavy muscling or tougher meat. This gene is undesirable because
muscle hypertrophy is an increase in muscle cell the meat for the loin muscle is so tough and
size. Observations have suggested the muscle unpalatable that it is not wanted by consumers.
Foreshank
Table 8
Chapter 6 • Carcass Evaluation and Meats 77
Percent of Boneless, Trimmed,
Retail Cuts from Each Yield Grade Lamb Production and
% Boneless, Trimmed Cuts Consumption
from Leg, Loin, Rack
Yield Grade and Shoulder U.S. consumption of lamb is 1.0 pounds per
1 47.3 > person per year on a carcass weight basis. Most
2 45.4 to 47.2 lamb in the United States is consumed in the
3 43.7 to 45.3 Northeast and in the western coastal states. New
4 41.9 to 43.6 York and California are the top two states in lamb
5 < 41.9 consumption.
Table 9
Top U.S. states in sheep and
Specifics lamb production (heads):
Due to the diversity of the sheep industry, a wide 1. Texas 820,000
range of specific requirements are acceptable
2. California 660,000
depending upon the local lamb market for which
a sheep producer is producing lamb. 3. Wyoming 420,000
4. Colorado 410,000
Weight of Live Market-ready Lamb
5. South Dakota 305,000
Range: 100–150 pounds
Ideal: 115–140 pounds**
Range updated. Ohio ranks 13 –largest sheep producing
th
Sheep Products
You will probably find it interesting and perhaps
useful to see how a market lamb contributes to Meats
the Consumer Market.
Figure 61